Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-07-22
PROTECTIVE DEMOCRATS.

The democratic party is seriously
divided on the tariff question:
Some of our exchanges which have
most to say in favor Of protection
are democratic papers.
Here is an extract from the H.
der.Appcal, on "Farmers and Pro-
lection" But the more immediate
effect (Of free trade) would be to
say the growth of railroads, mines,
manufactures and other enterprises
which increase the value OF every
thing the farmer possesses, and
enhances the value OF all he pro-
duces for not only are his land,
water, timbers and ores raised
thereby in marketable price, but
everything he raises ard makes it
in higher and greater demand, not
only by the creation Of markets at
his own door whereby he saves all
the costs and charges of transp0r-
tatiOn and middlemen that other
wise devour his profts), but by the
withdrawal Of competitive capital
and labor in agriculture that are
attracted and employed by the new
industries. The stay Of this growth
would be quickly followed by the
contraction Of operatlOns-the clos
ing Of works, the reduction of the
number of employees, and the cur
tailment Of wages. Competition
would be forced into agriculture as
the ultimate resource Of all honest
effort supply would decrease and
the demand decrease, with a
less number Of buyers, and each
with less money than formerly
and the final result would be either
a complete abandonment of mining
manufacturing, &C., with a general
compulsory sertdom to the soil, tC
the lmpOveriShment of everybody
by the destruction OF diversity o.
employment and production, with
mutual exchange, or else the degra
dation of agriculture and manufac
turing, with all engaged in them, t.
the miserable conditions necessary
to compete with European capita
and labor.
1t is easy to comprehend, how
ever, that as steam and its adjuncti
have practically annihllated time
and distance in the larger transac
tons of trade and commerce, anC
as capital and labor abroad have
every advantage Of us, il we once
take down the protective barrier:
of our tariff, we shall not only g
the level of European nations II
our industrial concerns, but below
them,-driyen thither by our Owl
folly and the superior equipment
longer experience, greater labO
manual and machine), and great
er transportation of our competi
tors.
The following is clipped from al
article in the wing on the SAM
subject;
We admit that energy, industr,
and enterprise are important factor
in the development ofall industries
but we deny that Virginia has beef
destitute of those qualities Will
they existed in Pennsylvania, an
hence the difference between th
two States. The energy and in
dustry of the South were simpl.
turned in a different direction, ant
before the war Virginia was a
prosperous and as rich as Pennsyl
vania. Circumstances have mad
it necessary for her TO take a ne'
departure-tO rely more upon min
ing and manufacturing and les
upon agricultural pnrsuitS-and
takes time to make the transi
ton. In making that transition
would certainly be folly in her +
reject the aid which has been S
beneficial to the North in building
up her industrial enterprises. Their
ought to be some reciprocity in tn
beneficial operations of n law, an,
as the tariff has made the Mort
rich, and is Just beginning to benefi
the South, we say, hold to It unit
we get our share Of its benefits.